Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
But also the sheer physical release of us.
“It’s done,” I tell her a minute later.
She gasps, sitting up.
I stand and take a step back, hoping she can’t read the nerves attempting to throttle the moment.
“I wanted to wait,” I say. “Until the tattoo was done.”
She looks up, her eyes watering already like she knows what’s coming.
But even if that’s the case, it doesn’t stop the doubt from twisting through me. No matter what any man says, this is a huge moment, bigger than any fight, any high-profile client, or anything I’ve ever done.
“It’s in honor of your Dad. May he rest in peace,” I say, reaching down and softly cradling my woman’s face.
She raises her hand and lays it atop mine, pushing down so I can feel her shakiness. Her eyes are wide, beautiful, and full of wonder.
“But I also think it represents us,” I go on. “In both our pasts, there was darkness. There was uncertainty. I thought it was going to be that way for me forever. I never dreamed I’d find the woman I want, the woman I need… the woman I love.”
She gasps, and I lean down, kissing her as she sits up even more, meeting me in the middle. We kiss long and deep, our tongues finding each other, our lust rising as it always does.
But then I break it off… with an effort, maybe the biggest of my life.
I want nothing more than to keep kissing her.
But this is important.
“Don’t sound so surprised. Mia, I love you, and you’re the brightness through the door. You’re the brightness in the future. You and our children and our life. I love you more than anything.”
“I love you too,” she says, her voice shaking, eyes glistening as tears form and cling to her eyelashes. “So much.”
“Now that the tattoo’s done… I think it’s time we walked through the door together.”
I kneel down, reaching into my pocket at the same time.
Mia swivels, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, the tears streaming now.
“I never thought a few texts would lead to this,” I say, taking the ring box from my pocket. “I never thought they could, but you’ve changed me. You make me a better man. You take away the darkness. You tattoo light onto my soul every single day. And I don’t care if that sounds cheesy….”
“The cheesier, the better, remember?” she says through a sob.
I smile widely as my eyes sting like I might cry too.
“Mia Nelson,” I say, opening the ring box to display a diamond as elegant, full, and gorgeous as my woman. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she cries, her voice bubbling with joy.
I slide the ring onto her finger, then leap to my feet and pull her into my arms. She throws herself at me, and then I spin her around, both of us laughing as we try to kiss, but our excitement won’t let us.
“I love you so much,” she says when I finally put her down. “I’m so happy you said it. I’ve wanted to say it since… honestly, Killian. Since our first text.”
My smile somehow gets wider as I lean down, getting closer and closer to my woman’s lips. “Me too, Mia. I wanted the proposal to be extra special.”
“It was. It is,” she speaks breathlessly. “It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Walking through that door with you.”
“And it’s just the beginning,” I whisper.
EPILOGUE
ONE MONTH LATER
Mia
“Good boy.”
I smile as I walk down the corridor to Mom’s apartment, past the bright and airy artwork on the walls, the colorful rugs, and everything just generally bright and hopeful, the sort of place I never could’ve imagined her living in – alone – before I met Killian.
I expect to find her in the living room, but instead, Speeder is in the room alone, grinning as he upturns one of the doggie puzzles and collects a treat. Mom’s voice comes from the camera in the corner, which she uses when she’s taking care of Speeder.
“Oh, hey, Mia,” she says, her voice filling the airy room. “I’m just at the store. I won’t be long.”
I grin. The idea of Mom going to the store on her own is still new to me, but this intensive therapy – so expensive we never could’ve dreamed of affording it – is working miracles.
“Okay, no worries,” I say, sitting on the couch. “I’ll wait. Hey, Speeder.”
I sit with Speeder, knowing he can probably sense the nerves in me.
I’ve got some news for you later, I text Killian, though teasing him at work probably isn’t fair.
But the news is bubbling up inside of me, which is why I came here.
It’s like it wants to shatter me and break free.
What sort of news? Killian texts back right away.
I bite down, wondering how much I can reveal.
Because if it’s news that has anything to do with a certain small, crying, wonderful bundle of love… I want to know. Now.